 Since 2002 we have been exploring our vision. It is an exciting and evolving process by which the mission of God’s church is being worked out in our town and beyond. It has three aspects, in bold italic print, and each aspect has a number of milestones, which are given below.
To develop as a community of the Christian faith.
To have resources to enable us to deepen our life of prayer.
To have opportunities for us to enjoy ourselves and grow in friendship. We have well supported social events across the year.
To have a space that is welcoming to young children and their families.
To make provision for those aged 11-18. We support the work of the Sedgemoor Deanery Youth Development officer.
To ensure a warm welcome is given to those who join us for worship.
To welcome and work with our new curate from June 2008.
To have at least one event each year for those who encounter Saint Mary’s at funerals, weddings and baptisms.
To investigate having a Mature Person’s Worker.
To provide opportunities for all to engage in Christian service in our church, such as bell ringing, singing, cleaning, stewarding, serving on the PCC, etc.
To be at the heart of the local community.
To have agreed proposals to re-order our church for the 21st century.
To have funded and completed at least the first phase of the Church Development project.
To have the building as open as often as possible.
To build a reputation as hosts for a wide range of artistic and cultural events.
To develop our links with community organisations.
To provide a haven for peace and prayer.
To offer a range of church services for our community.
To host a range of social occasions.
To offer space for meetings, social and cultural occasions.
To serve the wider community of Bridgwater and beyond.
To develop our relationship with our links parishes in Zambia from a basis of prayer and letter to personal engagement.
To have a positive profile in the local media.
To support the mission of the church at deanery, diocesan and national level.
To take the church to those unable to attend worship.
To make our building and our vision more widely known.
To appoint a Facilities Officer to co-ordinate church bookings and usage. Among our partner organisations are:
- Bridgwater Choral Society
- Bridgwater College
- Bridgwater YMCA
- East Bridgwater School
- The Mayor and Town Council of Bridgwater
- Bridgwater Civic Society
- Haygrove School
- St Mary’s Church of England Primary School
- The Royal Naval Association: Bridgwater Branch
- Age Concern: Active Living Project
- T.S. Blake: Sea Cadet Corps
- Bridgwater-Homburg Civic Link
- St Margaret’s Hospice, Taunton
- Royal British Legion: Bridgwater Branch
Saint Mary’s Women’s Fellowship has been long established. It meets fortnightly in church to hear guest speakers, and outings are arranged in the summer.
Three house groups run, two throughout the year. In these we undertake a series of study workshops to increase our knowledge of our faith. Weekly meetings take place during Advent and Lent, while during the summer they become monthly. One group organises a summer barbecue on the Quantocks.
The Thursday Lunch team continue to open the church to the community every Thursday morning, from 11.30 -1. 00 pm, for refreshments and fellowship; they have now raised over £10,000 for Christian Aid. In September we open Saint Mary’s for Heritage Days, and on Carnival day in November we are open all day for rest and refreshment; any profit we make is sent to our Zambia link.
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